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Common Tern at the Oysterbeds

PeterD-2009PeterD-2009 Registered Users Posts: 618 Major grins
edited May 19, 2012 in Wildlife
The second in the series of yesterday's trip to the West Hayling LNR.

The Common Tern are just beginning to settle on the islands in the lagoon. The females hunker down in scrapes in the gravel and the males try courting them by presenting their potential mates with fish. This can cause conflict as this series shows.

Male flying in with a fish it had caught.

P5161424-L.jpg

He managed to drop off the fish (unfortunately out of sight) but immediately flew up to high levels, chased by another male. The battle, which lasted about a minute, then took place. These are a couple of shots of the closest encounters.

P5161428-L.jpg

P5161429-L.jpg

Hope you like these.
Cheers

Peter

http://www.imageinuk.com

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    canon400dcanon400d Banned Posts: 2,826 Major grins
    edited May 17, 2012
    PeterD-2009 wrote: »
    The second in the series of yesterday's trip to the West Hayling LNR.

    The Common Tern are just beginning to settle on the islands in the lagoon. The females hunker down in scrapes in the gravel and the males try courting them by presenting their potential mates with fish. This can cause conflict as this series shows.

    Male flying in with a fish it had caught.

    P5161424-L.jpg

    He managed to drop off the fish (unfortunately out of sight) but immediately flew up to high levels, chased by another male. The battle, which lasted about a minute, then took place. These are a couple of shots of the closest encounters.

    P5161428-L.jpg

    P5161429-L.jpg

    Hope you like these.

    What fantastic captures Peter. Well done.
    Cheers
    Bob
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    PeterD-2009PeterD-2009 Registered Users Posts: 618 Major grins
    edited May 17, 2012
    canon400d wrote: »
    What fantastic captures Peter. Well done.
    Cheers
    Bob

    Thank you Bob. These Tern are the great entertainers in the bird world.
    Cheers

    Peter

    http://www.imageinuk.com
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    PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited May 17, 2012
    What an interesting series, Peter. You make me feel like I was there! Best, Pam
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    PeterD-2009PeterD-2009 Registered Users Posts: 618 Major grins
    edited May 18, 2012
    PGM wrote: »
    What an interesting series, Peter. You make me feel like I was there! Best, Pam

    Good morning Pam, thanks for your reply and comments.
    Cheers

    Peter

    http://www.imageinuk.com
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    Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
    edited May 18, 2012
    Great stuff peter. Like they dancing in the air.
    "Nothing sharpens sight like envy."
    Thomas Fuller.

    SmugMug account.
    Website.
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    PeterD-2009PeterD-2009 Registered Users Posts: 618 Major grins
    edited May 19, 2012
    Dick on Aruba wrote: »
    Great stuff peter. Like they dancing in the air.

    Thanks for your reply Dickthumb.gif. The long, narrow wings and tails remind you of the swallows and in moments like this, you can see their remarkable speed and agility in flight.
    Cheers

    Peter

    http://www.imageinuk.com
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